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Book Reviews:
The
Shining
By: Stephen King
Recommended by:
Craig L.
Plot: The Shining takes place in the late 1900s at the Overlook Hotel in Colorado. The main protagonist is named Danny “Doc” Torrance, his parents, Wendy and Jack Torrance. Jack is currently being interviewed for a job by Mr. Ullman, the manager of the hotel, Jack is taken through the Hotel in a tour as his job as caretaker and the famous visitors of the Hotel are described. However, contrary to Ullman’s vivid image of the hotel as the perfect tourist resort, secrets lay behind the walls of the Overlook, ranging from several grisly murders in the suites to rumors of the hotel being possessed, as spirits routinely drive people over the edge, as seen in the previous caretaker Grady, who murdered his wife and two daughters during the previous winter. The book recounts the horrific experiences for Jack and his family through the winter, leading up to the explosive conclusion.
Why read? Personally, I did not enjoy this book as much as some others would, however, some excellent points of the book were the scenes of horror that King aptly portrayed through the imagery, as well as the fact that the book seems to pull you into the story, to experience the horrors of the haunted Overlook Hotel.
Double
Cross
By: James Patterson
Recommended by:
Scott S.
Plot: This book revolves around Alex Cross, former detective who has retired from profiling criminals to become a psychologist. As he begins his new life as a civilian, he becomes swept back into police life with the emergence of a new serial killer who is putting the entire city of Washington, D.C. into panic and threatening Alex and his family. Meanwhile, Alex's past catches up with him with the escape of Kyle Craig, a murderer who Alex put in prison years before and vows revenge on him. While dealing with personal conflicts and the threat of two serial killers targeting him, Alex must return to police life and find the two killers.
Why read? I was extremely disappointed with this book and would not recommend reading it. Although the book is both suspenseful and entertaining at times, it lacks many of the requirements for a good novel. There is little character development and the plot is extremely formulaic. Despite all of the events surrounding the main characters, Patterson fails to have them grow or develop as they unfold. Halfway through the book, it becomes easy to predict what will happen next and there are no true surprises or suspenseful moments. For a 400 page novel, Double Cross fails to deliver a climactic ending, settling for one that is boring, predictable, and resolves the conflict. I would encourage fans of other James Patterson novels to read this book as well as anyone who enjoys fast paced novels, but the lack of character and plot development as well as the disappointing ending make this book difficult to recommend.
Misery
By:
Stephen King
Recommended by:
Stephen S.
Plot: The book Misery by Stephen King is an intriguing book that everyone should read. The story centers around the famous author of the Misery novels, Paul Sheldon. Paul has just finished the last of the novels in the series and he is out for a drive in a remote part of Colorado. Suddenly, he is caught in a storm and is unable to control his car, which flies violently off the road. When he regains consciousness Paul can sense that there is something wrong. He knows that he is in severe pain but he doesn’t yet know what the source of it is. He is later to find out that he has shattered his legs in the accident. But when he wakes up he is surprised to find that he is not in the hospital. He has been rescued by his number one fan Annie Wilkes. Unfortunately, this is not exactly the rescue he had been hoping for.
Why read? This book is worth reading because it is a very psychologically challenging book. It pulls you into the mind games that go on between Paul and Annie and really makes you think. It is also very different than your average novel because it has very graphically depicted scenes of violence and it truly scares you with a look into the mind of a mentally unstable and dangerous woman.
Dope
By:
Sara
Gran
Recommended by:
Lester X.
Plot: Josephine Flannigan lives on the other side of New York City. The side filled with junkies, drunks, drug sellers, thieves, and murderers. Having been a former dope user, she lives by pick pocketing and stealing to pay off her rent. She gets a lucky break though when a wealthy couple offers her $2,000 total to find their daughter who has disappeared into the dark world under New York City. Josephine thinks it is going to be easy money until she finds out that she has gotten herself involved into something that is larger than just a simple couple with a troubled daughter.
Why read? The plot moves rather quickly and the book itself is not that long. Most of it is about Josephine recalling experiences in her past when she was on dope and the people that were involved with her. She looks for the daughter of the Nelsons, the wealthy couple, and gets herself caught up in something that she will regret for the remainder of her life. I thought the book was okay and most of my praise goes for its quick plot development and change. I personally give this book a 7 out of 10.
Pretty
Little Liars
By:
Sara Shepard
Recommended by:
Aparna N.
Plot: Pretty Little Liars is a book about a group of five friends who are all bonded by a secret that they must hide forever, but during one seventh grade sleepover, everything changes. One of the girls mysteriously disappears, and the other four girls do not see her ever again. Because of this, the friends start to drift apart to try to forget about their missing friend. A few years later, the girls start to get threatening text messages, im’s, and even emails from someone named A. Slowly the girls are drawn back together to try and find out who is behind these messages, and if they are related to their missing friend.
Why read? This book is great because it makes you want to continue reading to find out what happens to each of the friends, and how the mysterious notes are affecting each one. Every chapter is from the point of view of another one of the girls, and the reader learns each of their individual secrets.
Skeleton
Key
By:
Anothony Horowitz
Recommended by:
Troy Z.
Plot: Alex Rider is a spy for the British and is only 14. He goes undercover with the CIA on an island when it all goes wrong. Alex has to find a way to get out.
Why read? I would recommend this book to people who like action thrillers. Its a good book with alot of interesting action.
Reviewer’s note: Good Book
Interred
With Their Bones
By:
Jennifer Lee Carrell
Recommended by:
Mr. Wolk
Plot: After the Globe Theatre burns down in modern-day London, Kate Stanley discovers that a former professor has been murdered in the same manner as Hamlet's father. Before long, Kate (an expert in "occult Shakespeare") finds herself jetting from continent to continent on a "treasure hunt" for a long-lost play, but lurking in the shadows is a Shakespeare-obsessed killer, who will stop at nothing to keep that "damaging" work from ever seeing the light of day.
Why read? What became of Shakespeare's "missing" plays? Who was the true author behind the great comedies and tragedies? Who were the "handsome youth" and "dark lady" featured in the sonnets? Author Carrell gives devotees of "Bard lore" their own DaVinci Code, combining scholarship with suspense to produce a stylish murder mystery that will satisfy fans of the National Treasure films and novels such as The Historian and The Thirteenth Tale. The writer's concluding commentary (on the history/research behind her work) is every bit as fascinating as the novel itself.
The
Good Thief's Guide To Amsterdam
By:
Chris Ewan
Recommended by:
Mr. Wolk
Plot: Charlie Howard writes novels about a dashing thief named Faulks and supplements his income(and plot ideas) by pulling off the odd heist or two on the side. After a mysterious American asks him to steal two small monkey figurines to complete a set(See No Evil,Speak No Evil,Hear No Evil), Charlie must first clear himself of murder charges before solving a baffling mystery.
Why read? In this British prize-winning first novel, author Chris Ewan creates his own engaging, often funny narrator and acknowledges "past masters" such as Chandler, Hitchcock, Bogart and Cary Grant. A thin man, a wide man, a woman in distress, the Three Wise Monkeys and a fortune in missing diamonds add up to a page-turner that's almost impossible to put down.
Motherless
Brooklyn
By:
Jonathan Lethem
Recommended by: Michael V. G.
Plot: The book is about Lionel who is a man with Tourette’s Syndrome that works for the mafia. Lionel's boss gets fatally stabbed and his best friend is thrown in jail. Lionel tries to figure out the mystery behind his boss's death and get his friend out of jail.
Why read? This book is for the guy who likes to watch the Godfather, Donnie Brasco, Goodfellas, and all of the other mobster movies. This book puts a funny twist on the “regular” mafia story. This book has suspense, comedy, and overall the most action you will ever read in a novel about a man with Tourette’s Syndrome. read more reviews
The Da
Vinci
Code
By:
Dan Brown
Recommended by: Michael L.
Plot: The Da Vinci Code is about a professor who goes to Italy to solve a murder mystery case, similar to those solved by Sherlock Holmes. There are all sorts of Italian scary symbols and evil people who try to kill the professor. He also meets a pretty hot chick who helps him out with the murder mystery case. It was a really good book.
Why read? Because it’s full of suspense, action, excitement, mystery and even romance. Anybody can pick it up and read it.
Digital
Fortress
By: Dan Brown
Recommended by: Justin S.
Plot: When the NSA’s invincible code-breaking machine encounters a mysterious code it cannot break, the agency calls its head cryptographer, Susan Fletcher. What she uncovers shocks everyone. The NSA is being held hostage...not by guns or bombs, but by a code so complex that if released it would cripple U.S. intelligence. Betrayed on all sides, Susan fins herself fighting not only for her country but also for her life, and in the end, for the life of the man she loves.
Why read? This book is fast-paced and has kept me from putting it down since I started reading. It is filled with suspense and is a very exciting novel. Whether you are a fan of The DaVinci Code or not, this novel is a must read.
Deep Fathom
By: James Rollins
Recommended
by:
Jay L.
Plot:
Solar flares trigger a series of natural
disaster. As the world watches the first eclipse of the millennium. as
super volcanic eruptions and earthquakes rip the world apart we are left to
wonder—could this be the end?
Why read?
This is the kind of book that you
cannot put down. It is a suspenseful thriller that levees you guessing until
the very end. If you enjoy science fiction, politics, and drama, you will
enjoy this book.
Dope
By:
Sara Gran
Recommended by: Jaye K.
Plot: The whole story is a mystery. The main character is a former drug addict who is sent off to find a family’s lost daughter in the city. However, their daughter brings the main character back to the slums of NYC and the memories of her addictive past.
Why read? This book is worth reading if you enjoy a twist in your stories. It’s thrilling and totally shocking because of the main character’s past, present and future. It is a good, twisted mystery.
Loaded Dice
By:James Swain
Recommended by: Aaron S.
Plot: Valentine, a retired detective and now a gambling consultant, makes his way to Vegas to handle the scheme of an infamous Vegas cheat, while balancing a shaky relationship with his son.
Why read? This book is a light read that will keep your attention on every page. Its filled with twists and cliffhangers and won't cease to surprise you.
Survivor By: Chuck Palahniuk
Recommended by: Jimmy C.
Plot: A Creedish death cultist leaves his native town as an indentured servant for its leaders. The cult commits to its ‘final destination’, yet word of the mass suicide is slow to reach the servants across the states. Tender Branson, the last surviving member contemplates his decision to live or die; however, it may not be his own choice.
Why read? Palahniuk’s book explores a twisted and unusual plot of suicide, murder, love, and anguish. Unlike any other book I have read, Survivor explores the themes of devotion to religion and self preservation.
The
Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
By: Mark Haddon
Recommended by: Olga Y.
Plot: Christopher John Francis Boone is an autistic boy who has a fascination with dogs. Quite ironically, Christopher finds his next door neighbor’s dog dead, with a garden fork stuck in its side. Bewildered and surprised, Christopher decides to play detective and figure out who killed the dog. From here, Christopher sets out on a number of journeys to find the mysterious murderer, all the while coping with society’s “absurd” way of life.
Why read? By reading a book from the perspective of an autistic child, you will be able to experience life from a different point of view. You will also have the opportunity to follow a detective-like path to solve the mystery of the dead dog. read more reviews
The Murder of
Roger Ackroyd
By: Agatha Christie
Recommended by:
Mr. Moran
Plot: Of her 80 or so mysteries, this one is the best. The solution to the puzzle of who killed Roger Ackroyd caused a sensation when the book was first published. People said she cheated, but they're just sore losers.
Why read? Anyone who says he or she figured out the solution before it was revealed by Christie is either a genius or a liar.
The ABC Murders
By: Agatha Christie
Recommended by:
Mr. Moran
Plot: Three victims are found whose initials form the ABC pattern—but how are they connected—and how can detective Hercule Poirot prevent the “D” from dying?
Why read? The solution is one of Christie’s best. You’ll have fun trying to figure out how the victims are related—and then (most likely) be surprised when you learn the truth.
The Big Sleep
By: Raymond
Chandler
Recommended by:
Mr. Moran
Plot:
The Big Sleep is American hardboiled detective fiction at its best.
Philip Marlowe is hired by a dying millionaire to end a blackmail scheme; by
the novel’s end, Marlowe is drawn into the sleaze
of L.A.—and the lives of his client’s
dangerous daughters.
Why read? The plot is often incomprehensible in terms of who-killed-whom-when-and-why, but don’t let that worry you. (When Chandler was asked who killed the chauffer, he famously replied, “I don't know.”) Marlowe’s voice makes the book worth reading and something dangerous, funny or strange occurs every ten pages.
The Grave Tattoo
By:
Val McDermid
Recommended by:
Mr. Wolk
Plot:
When a 200-year-old corpse is discovered,
Wordsworth scholar Jane Gresham becomes involved in the story of a lifetime.
Did Fletcher Christian return to England from the Bounty mutiny to tell his
tale to Wordsworth, resulting in a long-hidden epic poem? Jane’s
search for the priceless epic puts her in the path of a greedy and ruthless
killer, who leaves a trail of bodies in his/her wake.
Why read? The GT is a “page-turner” with many intriguing characters, including Jane and a poetry-loving thirteen-year-old with a difficult past. We learn in a “pain-free” manner about Wordsworth, Coleridge, Mutiny on the Bounty and England’s Lake District.
The Alienist
By: Caleb Carr
Recommended by: Ms. Donahue
Plot: This is the story of the first use of profiling to capture a serial killer. “Alienist” is the old fashioned term for what we now call psychiatrists.
Why read? Combine the TV shows Criminal Minds and CSI and move the setting to the 19th century England and you have a gritty look at mental illness and evil.
The
No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency By:
Alexander McCall Smith
Recommended by:
Deirdre M.
Plot: Precious Ramotswe begins her own detective agency and drives around Botswana in her little white van. The plot is episodic and the mysteries are not as complicated as they are in other books.
Why read? This book is funny and the characters are great! This book won't change the world, but you will be happy as you read it and want to continue reading about these characters in the sequels.
Gentlemen
and Players By: Joanne Harris
Recommended by:
Mr. Wolk
Plot:
A working-class youth decides to infiltrate the world of the rich and
privileged at St. Oswald’s Grammar School for Boys
by donning a school uniform and creating a false identity. Years later our
narrator returns as a teacher seeking to destroy the school’s
reputation, and only an aging, “old school”
teacher can put a stop to the cruel intentions.
Why read? Although not best-known fro her work in the mystery genre, Harris proves that she can devise an inticate “whodunit” with the best of them. Your quest to discover the book’s “secret” will keep the pages turning at a rapid pace.
Chocolate
Chip Cookie Murder By: Joanne
Fluke
Recommended by: V.C.
Plot:
Hannah Swensen, a baker in the town of Lake Eden, Minnesota,
discovers a murder victim near her bakery. She goes to the scene of the
crime and is shocked to see that the murder victim was eating one of the
chocolate chip cookies she had baked. This would make her the #1 suspect of
the murder, even though she was innocent. Hannah is compelled to investigate
the case to prove that she is innocent. The killer turns out to be someone
Hannah would have never suspected...
Why read? Unlike some mysteries found in the “Mystery” section of bookstores and libraries, this is not a bloody murder mystery. It has no part that could possibly give anyone nightmares (except the cover could make you want to not have cookies and milk ever again). Also, there is a good deal of humor mixed into the plot, and the book has recipes in it that you can try. Once into the first four chapters or so, you won’t be able to put it down until the end.
The Thirteenth Tale
By: Diane Setterfield
Recommended by:
Mr. Wolk
Plot: Margaret Lea is summoned by a dying woman to write a biography of a remarkable life. The woman near death is Vida Winter, “England’s best-loved writer; our century’s Dickens,” but she is a creator of fiction and not known for telling the truth. As Vida unveils her shocking tale, Margaret learns the secrets of a renowned writer and discovers the mysteries of her own past, as well.
Why read? An old house, a ghost, a governess, an evil twin, a destructive fire and a missing (13th) story add up to one incredible tale. Setterfield’s novel has won several “new voice” awards and drawn comparisons to classics such as Jane Eyre and Rebecca.
A Great
Deliverance By: Elizabeth
George
Recommended by: Mr. Cibrian
Plot: When Roberta Teys’ father is brutally murdered, she admits to the killing, then stops talking. It's up to a couple of Scotland Yard detectives to determine (a) if Roberta did it, and (b) why anyone would kill this rural farmer.
Why read? This is structured like a typical mystery, but it examines the nasty and perverse sides of humanity. It is the first of many George novels featuring the rich Inspector Lynley and his abrasive sidekick Sergeant Havers. If you like mysteries, this book will get you hooked on George’s series of novels.
Double Indemnity
By: James M. Cain
Recommended by:
Mr. Cibrian
Plot:
Insurance salesman Walter Huff meets Phyllis Nirdlinger, wife of one
of Walter’s clients. Walter and Phyllis begin an
affair, which eventually leads to...murder!
Why read? This is one of those “ordinary-guy gone wrong” stories that has many twists and turns throughout. It is a tight thriller that examines the nasty and perverse sides of humanity, and it will leave you “on the edge of your seat” until the very end.
The Poet
By: Michael Connelly
Recommended by:
Mr. Cibrian
Plot: Crime reporter Jack McEvoy’s brother, a homicide detective, commits suicide. To combat his grief, Jack begins researching other police suicides, only to realize that a serial killer is murdering police detectives and making the killings look like suicides.
Why read? Michael Connelly is a prolific mystery writer, famous for his Detective Harry Bosch novels. This novel, however, is independent from that series. It is engrossing, as Jack picks apart crime scenes and begins to see the truth. Will he discover the murderer before it’s too late? If you enjoy suspenseful killer novels, you'll love this book.
Size 12 Is
Not Fat By:
Meg Cabot
Recommended by: Betsy
W
Plot: Heather Wells is a former pop star who is trying to start over after her mother and manager have run off to South America with all her money. After she starts a new job as a Residence Hall director at a downtown New York City university (thinly disguised as NYU) she gets involved in the investigation of mysterious deaths of two of her residents.
Why read? Meg Cabot spins a good tale that is highly readable, with elements of humor and romance mixed in. Her detective/residence hall director is memorable, feisty and someone with whom the average reader can identify.
Reviewer’s note: There is a sequel; Size 14 Is Not Fat Either
The Lovely Bones
By: Alice Sebold
Recommended by: LS
Plot: Our narrator Susie Salmon is already in heaven. Murdered by a neighbor when she was only fourteen years old, Susie tells us what it is like to be in her new place. "When I first entered heaven I thought everyone saw what I saw. That in everyone's heaven there were soccer goalposts in the distance and lumbering women throwing shot put and javelin. That all the buildings were like suburban northeast high schools built in the 1960s." Later she learns that heaven is whatever you truly want it to be and, sometimes, other people's version of heaven intercepts with your own.
Why read? It keeps you so interested that you never want to put the book down. Plus, you learn to feel sympathy for her family and learn what one version of heaven is like.
Reviewer’s note: very depressing but very good.
Death on the Nile
By: Agatha Christie
Plot: Linnet Doyle is young, beautiful, and rich. She's the girl who has everything- including the man her best friend loves. Linnet and her new husband take a cruise on the Nile, where they meet the brilliant detective Hercule Poirot. It should be an idyllic trip, yet Poirot has a vague, uneasy feeling that something is dangerously amiss...
Why read? There are surprises from beginning to end.
The Kidnapping of Christina
Lattimore By:
Joan Lowery Nixon
Recommended by: Ryan A
Plot: A girl named Christina learns that the trust of her parents is really important when it comes down to why she went missing.
Why read? New parts of the mystery come at you during the book, and keeps you thinking the whole time you're reading. When you think you know what’s going to happen...think again.
An Arsonist's
Guide To Writers' Homes In New England By:
Brock Clarke
Recommended by:
Mr. Wolk
Plot: Sam Pulsifer accidentally burns down the house of poet Emily Dickinson, resulting in the deaths of two “innocent” people. Ten years later, he leaves prison and begins a new life with a wife and family. When someone else torches the homes of Twain, Frost, Thoreau and other literary luminaries, Sam automatically becomes Suspect #1. Now he must play detective or face another lengthy stay behind bars.
Why read? Clarke’s much publicized novel is both an incredibly funny mystery and a fascinating journey through our literary past. Along the way, Clarke explores our fascination with reading, libraries, bookstores, memoirs and even Harry Potter.
The Hound of the Baskervilles
By: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Recommended
by: Monica P.
Plot:On a regular
evening, Sherlock Holmes and his partner Dr. Watson are surprised by a visit
from a country doctor. The doctor shares with them a disturbing story of an
ancient family curse that plagues the Baskerville family. The Baskerville
heir apparent has been murdered, a giant spectral dog found at the scene of
his death. Is the hound real? Who is behind it? As you meet the different
characters wandering across the moors, the true killer only becomes more
shrouded in mystery.
Why read?
This book is one of the best known Sherlock Holmes stories. If you
are interested in getting started reading mystery novels, this is an
excellent place to start. It is the perfect balance between fear and
intrigue--the grisly murders and the mysterious hound balance perfectly with
the eclectic, suspicious cast of characters that keep you guessing until the
last page. The historical aspect of the book was also quite interesting. The
setting of the moors was foreign enough to hold my interest, yet familiar
enough to be relatable. The language of the novel took some getting used to,
especially if you are more inclined towards modern mystery writers. However,
the formalities become charming and more understandable the further you
read. Even if mystery is not your favorite genre, you can certainly
appreciate the rich detail and historical accuracy of Sir Arthur Conan
Doyle.
Stranger
With My Face By: Lois Duncan
Recommended by:
Beth W
Plot:
People have been seeing Laurie
Stratton in places where she has never been. How could this be? Someone is
trying to steal Laurie's life, but who?
Why
read?
This book is worth reading because it is an
interesting book filled with suspense. Also, the plot is original and
entertaining.
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